Julian Phoenix of the Tahona Odham tribe performs traditional dance during a Native American Indian blessing at the dedication of new sculpture art at 11650 Burke St. in Santa Fe Springs May 13, 2014. El Greco Development Co. commissioned the art work as part cityþÄôs Art in Public Places Program. (Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb/Whittier Daily News)

SANTA FE SPRINGS >> The latest work in the city’s public art program was unveiled Tuesday.

As part of the dedication of “Whispering Shadows,” which consists of seven concrete-like columns at the El Greco Development, 11650 Burke St., Santa Fe Springs, the city brought in Native American dancers, “Journey to the Past,” to give the art piece a blessing.

El Greco commissioned the work by Los Angeles artist Alex Shagin as part of the city’s Art in Public Places Program where developers must either pay a 1 percent tax or do their own project.

In this case, Larry Patsouras, owner of El Greco Development, chose to do his own project, said Lesley Elwood, consultant for the project.

The development consists of a light-manufacturing facility, Elwood said.

The artwork is comprised of seven different pillars ranging from 3 to 9 feet high. The two large columns have carved into them an Aztec design with the image of a snake.

“The snake image represents the mythological animal that exists in a lot of cultures,” Elwood said.

In this case, the Aztec and Greek cultures are represented, she said. Patsouras is of Greek ancestry, she added.

“He liked the idea that (the art work) represented artifacts or relics,” she said.

Mike Sprague started at the Whittier Daily News in April 1984. Since then, Sprague has covered every city in the Whittier Daily News circulation area, as well as political and water issues. Sprague received a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in political science, both from Cal State Fullerton.